Brake beam



E. G. BUSSE Feb. 20, 1934.

BRAKE BEAM 2 SheetS Sheet 1 Filed April 15, 1931 Feb. 20, 1934. E, G, ussg 1,947,579

BRAKE BEAM Filed April 15, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 In men for a rwz y G 50558 Patented Feb. 20, 1934 UNITED STATES BRAKE BEAM Edwin G. Busse, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Chicago Railway Equipment Company, Chicago, 111., a

corporation of Illinois Application April 15, 1931. Serial No. 530,402

27 Claims.

The invention relates to railway rolling stock brake beams of the truss type which include a compression member, a strut at the middle thereof, and a tension member extending over said I strut with its ends secured to the ends of the compression member either directly or by means of a thrust block which may comprise a part of the brake head.

The repeated application and release of the brakes tend to create a bending or weaving action in the tension member adjacent to the brake heads tending to crystallization and breaking of the tension member. This weaving action may be back and forth in the plane of the brake beam, due solely to the application of force in a horizontal plane longitudinally of the truck and the resistance, to the movement of the brakes, in the opposite direction. Occasionally there is a Weaving in a vertical plane due to the fact that ends of the compression members are not always sheared or ground square to the plane of the beam. If this condition exists, the tension rod may break near the base of the nut seat either at the top or bottom side of the rod. The main object of the invention is to eliminate breakage of brake beam tension members resulting from the conditions mentioned and this object is attained by providing the tension member of the beam with elements to permit flexing vertically or horizontally to accommodate the weaving actions without decreasing the tensional strength upon which the beam depends for its resistance to deflection under normal loads.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating various forms of the invention- Figure 1 is a top view or" a brake beam of the type referred to embodying one form of the invention.

Figure 2 is a front view of the beam.

Figures 3 to 22 are detail views of various forms of the elements which provide flexibility in the tension member for the purpose specified.

The beam shown in Figures 1 and 2 has an ordinary compression member 1, a strut 2, and brake heads 3 which comprise thrust block portions including the seats 4 for the tension rod nuts 5. The tension rod consists of a main central portion 6 terminating in hooks 7 which engage eyes 8 in the ends of terminal members 9 which project through the brake head-thrust block and are engaged by nuts 5.

Obviously any tendency of the brake head to weave in any plane passing through the axis of the tension rod will be accommodated by the articulated joint formed by elements 7 and 8 without setting up any bending strains in the extension rod whereby the main object of the present invention is attained. 7

Figure 3 illustrates a similar arrangement in which the articulated joint elements 11 and 12 60 are both open hooks of the loop type.

In Figure 4, the hooks 13 and 14 interengage along the flat surfaces 15.

Figure 5 illustrates a tension member struc-- ture in which the round rod sections 16 and 17 05 are flattened with their flattened portions 18 and 19 overlapping and pivotally secured to each other by the rivet 20. This joint is free to articulate in a vertical plane but afiords no substantial flexibility in a horizontal plane.

Figure 6 illustrates a modification in which the flat elements 21 and 22 are disposed horizontally with the axis of the pivot rivet which is disposed vertically to accommodate flexing in a horizontal plane.

In Figure 7, the terminal member 24 is provided with a clevis 25 which receives a tongue 26 on the. end of the body portion 27 of the tension member, the parts being interconnected by the pin 28.

In Figure 8, the pull is taken by shouldersv 29 and 30 on tension member portions 31 and 32, respectively. Preferably one of the shoulders is rounded as shown to accommodate the flexing of the joint. The two parts are held in assembly position by the rivet 33 which is relieved of the single shearing moment by the provision of the shoulders. 1

The structure of Figure 9 is similar to that of Figure '7 but the clevis joint is turned at an angle of 90 to that shown in Figure 7 so that the parts 34 and 35 may pivot horizontally.

In the structure shown in Figure 10, the two parts 36 and 37 are connected by means of the ball and socket joint which permits flexing in any axial plane.

Figure 11 illustrates another form of ball and socket joint in which the socket member 38 is in the form of a bifurcated hook which straddles the tension rod body 39, but engages the ball end 40 m0 of the latter.

In Figure 12, the body member 41 and the ter minal member 42 each has ball like ends 43 seated in a link element 44 whereby universal flexibility is provided.

In Figure 13, the terminal member has a link end 46 which receives the ball end 4'1 of the body portion 48 of the tension member.

In Figure 14, the terminal member 49 has a. hook end 50 which receives the end of body por- 110 I i and vertical planes.

tion 51 and provides a seat for the head 52 of the latter.

In Figure 15, the thrust block 53, which may or may not include the brake head, has an integral bracket 54. extending inwardly from the end of the beam and providing a seat for the terminal portion 55 of the tension member which is connected to the body portion 56 by a turnbuckle 5'7. In all of the above described forms, the flexible movement is attained by the provision of jointed elements.

Figure 16 illustrates a modification in which the round rod tension member 58 has a portion 59 flattened horizontally to provide for flexing of the member in a vertical plane, without decreasing the sectional area of the rod, and the end of the rod is flattened vertically as indicated at 60 to provide for flexure in a horizontal plane, the flattened portion being extended outwardly through the brake head 61 and around the end of the compression member 62.

In Figure 17, the tension member 63 is provided with flattened portions 64 and 65 disposed horizontally and vertically, respectively, but the member terminates in a threaded round portion 66 adapted to receive the nut 67.

Figure 18 illustrates a similar construction but the round end portion 68 extends through the brake headthrust block 69 and the flattened portions '70 and '71 are both free of any restraint from the thrust block.

In Figure 19, the tension member 72 comprises a flat bar having a 90 twist as indicated at '73 and having its end upset as indicated at 74 for application of the nut 75. In Figures 20 and 21, the round tension member 76 is provided with a flattened portion 7'? to accommodate horizontal flexing and a shoe 78 having upstanding ears 79 is clamped on the flattened portion '7'? and is adapted to ride on a supporting member such as is well known in the art, the shoe and supporting member forming a fourth point support for the beam.

Figure 22 illustrates a structure in which the flattened portions 80 and 81 are inclined 45 from the vertical, but in transverse directions and thereby tend to accommodate flexing of the tension member at corresponding angles without increasing the resistance to flexure in horizontal Obviously, one of the flattened portions 8081 may be omitted if a more lim ted direction of. flexibility is adequate.

In all forms of the invention except that shown in Figure 16, there is provision for taking up any play between the tension member and the compression member and it is obvious that the bending strains resulting from the weaving of the brake heads about any part of the tension member as a pivot is eliminated. In most of the forms the transverse movement of the end portion of the tension member about the nut as a pivot may be limited by the bearing of the side of the member on an opposing surface of the head. Such engagement is indicated particularly in Figures 17, 18, 19 and 22 where the head is sectioned.

Reference is made to co-pending application by the same applicant, filed December 6, 1930, se rial No. 505,529, which application discloses certain features described herein. The present application is in part a continuation of said earlier filed application.

Various other modifications in the details of the invention may be made with the same objective without departing from the spirit or" the present invention and I contemplate the exclusive use of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a truss type brake beam, a strut, a compression member, and a tension rod secured at its end to the end of the compression member including jointed parts articulating transversely of the axis of the rod intermediate said strut and the end of said compression member.

2. In a truss type brake beam, a strut, a com pression member, and a tension member secured at its end to the end of the compression member and including elements providing for flexing of the tension member in different directions transversely of its axis.

In a truss type brake beam, a strut, a compression. member, and a tension member secured at its end to the end of the compression member and including elements adapted to flex in vertical and horizontal planes to avoid bending strains in the tension member due to application and release of the brakes.

i. In a truss type brake beam, a strut, a compression member and atension member comprising a body part, terminating short of the end of said compression member, and a terminal part extendin inwardly from the end of the compression member, one of said parts including a hook and the other of said parts including a hook engaging element.

5. In a truss type brake beam, a strut, a comression member and a tension member comprising a body part, terminating short of the end of said compression member, and a terminal part connected to the end of the compression member, said parts having overlapping ends pivotally interconnected.

6. In a truss type brake beam, a strut, a compression member of channel section, a thrust block on the end of said compression member, a

tension bar with its ends passing between the flanges of said compression member at the ends of the latter and secured to said thrust block, and elements providing for flexure in said tension bar transversely of its axis and intermediate said strut and thrust block.

7. In a truss type brake beam, a strut, a compression member, a tension member of round cross section, and means securing the corresponding ends of said members together, said tension member having portions adjacent to its end flat- 1.

tened in transverse directions respectively to reduce its resistance to bending to accommodate weaving strains without substantially reducing the sectional area and tensional strength of the tension member.

8. In a truss type brake beam, a strut, a compression member, a tension member of round cross section, and means securing the corresponding ends of said members together, said.

tension member having portions adjacent to its end flattened horizontally and vertically to reduce its resistance to bending vertically and horizontally respectively so as to accommodate bending strains due to weaving of the brake ferent directions at spaced points respectively between said thrust block and strut to facilitate flexing of the tension member in difierent directions when the brakes are applied and re leased.

16. A structure as specified in claim 7 in which said securing means is adjustable on said tension member to compensate for wear, stretching, or resetting of the various parts of the beam relative to each other.

11. In a truss type brake beam, a strut, a compression member, a tension member, and means securing the end of said tension member to the end of said compression member, said means being adjustable to compensate for wear or stretching of the parts and said tension member including structure providing for flexing of the tension member in difierent directions transversely of its axis to avoid undue bending strains which tend to arise in the tension member because of the weaving of the brake heads during application and release of the brakes.

12. A structure as specified in claim 2 in which said elements embody a ball and socket joint between them.

, head on said block, and structure providing for flexure of said tension member transversely of its axis at a desired portion intermediate said strut and thrust block, to facilitate weaving of the brake head during application and removal of the brakes without injury to the tension member or to the thrust block and brake head.

14. In a truss-type brake beam, a strut, a compression member, a thrust block on the end of said compression member, a tension member, and means operable to adjust the tension on said tension member, a brake head on said block, and structure intermediate said strut and block providing for the flexing of said tension member transversely of its axis at a predetermined point more readily than at other points along the same in order to facilitate weaving of the brake head during application and removal of the brakes without unduly stressing said tension member transversely of its length.

15. A tension member for a railway brake beam of the truss type, having a t ireaded cylindrical end part for mounting a nut engaging a beam compression member thrust block element, and having a flattened portion adjacent to said threaded part more flexible in the plane of the beam than the remainder of the member.

16. In a railway brake beam of the truss type, a compression member, a thrust block at the end thereof, a tension member extending through said block and being provided with a threaded part projecting beyond said block, and a nut on said threaded part for holding said block and members together, said tension member being reduced in thickness at a point adjacent to said block and in a direction parallel to the direction of application of the beam, to facilitate flexing of the tension member.

17. In a brake beam of the truss type, a compression member, a thrust block element on the end thereof, a tension member extending through said block and having a bearing on the inner edge thereof, and a fastening device mounted on said tension member and seated against the outer face of said block, said tension member being flattened vertically of the beam at a point other than said bearing and seat to facilitate flexing of the member horizontally of the beam when the brakes are applied.

18. In a brake beam of the truss type, a compression member, a thrust block element on the end thereof, a tension member extending through said block and having a bearing on the inner edge thereof, and a nut threaded on said member and seated against the outer face of said block, said tension member being flattened transversely of the plane of the beam at a point spaced a relatively short distance from said inner edge towards the middle ofthe beam to facilitate flexing of the member in the direction of application of the beam.

19. In a railway brake beam of the truss type, a compression member, a thrust block element on the end. thereof having portions spaced 1ongitudinally of the beam for engaging said compression member, a tension member extending through said thrust biock element, and means seated on the outer face of said thrust block element for securing said compression and tension members and said thrust block element together, said tension member being flattened between said portions of said thrust block element to form a relatively thin upright web free of securing elements and arranged to flex more easily than the remainder of the tension member when the brakes are applied to the vehicle wheels.

20. A structure as described in claim 19 in which said securing means is adjustable on said tension member to compensate for wear, stretching, or resetting of the various parts of the beam relative to each other.

21. In a brake beam of the truss type, a compression member of channel-like cross section, a strut arranged to receive the thrust from the brake beam, a tension member comprising a round rod, said compression member and tension member converging at their ends, thrust block elements mounted on the corresponding ends of said members and arranged to transmit said thrust to the brake shoes, and devices seated on the outer faces of said thrust blocks and engaging the ends of said tension member to hold said elements and members together, said tension member being flattened adjacent to said elements and free of securing means inwardly of said devices to facilitate flexing of said member and re duce the tendency to crystallize due to repeated application and removal of the load.

22. In a railway brake beam of the truss type, a tension member, a compression member, a strut between the intermediate portions of said members, and means connecting the corresponding ends of said members together and including devices for adjusting the relative positions of said members, said tension member having a portion adjacent its end flattened transversely of the plane of the beam and free of securing means so as to reduce its resistance to bending in the plane of the beam, but without reducing its sectional area.

23. In a railway brake beam of the truss type, a cambered compression member, a strut, thrust blocks at the ends of said member, a tension member comprising a flat bar with its widest face arranged vertically, said bar extending through said thrust blocks and having its end portions threaded, and nuts screwed onto said threaded end portions to adjust the camber of said compression member.

2a. A tension member for a railway brake beam of the truss type comprising a fiat bar with its end portions upset and of cylindrical shape and threaded to mount an adjusting nut for engaging a thrust block.

25. A tension member for a railway brake beam of the truss-type, having a threaded part for mounting a nut engaging a beam compression member thrust block element, and having a flexibie portion adjacent to said threaded part to avoid bending strains in the member due to application and release of the brakes.

26. In a railway brake beam of the truss-type, a tension member, a compression member, a strut of fixed length between said members, and means adjustably securing the corresponding ends of said members together to vary the tension of said tension member and the camber of said compression member, said tension member having portions near its ends reduced in thickness, said portions being free of means directly securing the same to said compression member, in order to facilitate flexing of the tension member due to application and release of the brakes.

27. In a railway brake beam of the truss-type, a tension member, a compression member, a strut of fixed length between said members, and thrust blocks, means adjustably securing the ends or" said tension member to said thrust blocks, said tension member having a flexible portion between said strut and each of said thrust blocks and securing means to permit the beam to weave Without producing bending strains in the tension member.

EDWIN G. BUSSE. 

